Safety and Preliminary Efficacy of SNK01 in Combination With Trastuzumab or Cetuximab in Subjects With Advanced HER2 or EGFR Cancers

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04464967
• Recruitment Status: Withdrawn
• First Posted: July 9, 2020
• Last Update Posted: May 12, 2021
• Sponsor: NKGen Biotech, Inc.
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): NKGen Biotech, Inc.

Study Description

Brief Summary:

The purpose of the Phase 1/2a study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of SNK01 in combination with trastuzumab or cetuximab in order to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD)/recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D), and the preliminary efficacy for each combination regimen.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Advanced Solid Tumor; Metastatic Cancer; HER2-positive Breast Cancer; HER2-positive Gastric Cancer; HER-2 Protein Overexpression; Esophageal Cancer; Ovarian Cancer; Endometrium Cancer; Bladder Cancer; Pancreatic Cancer; Colorectal Cancer; Non Small Cell Lung Cancer; EGF-R Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer; Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Triple Negative Breast Cancer; Cervical Cancer; Sarcoma	Biological: SNK01; Drug: Trastuzumab; Drug: Cetuximab	Phase 1; Phase 2

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Actual Enrollment: 0 participants
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)
• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Official Title: A Phase 1/2a, Open-Label, Multi-Center Study Evaluating the Safety and Anti-Tumor Activity of Ex Vivo Expanded, Autologous Natural Killer Cells (SNK01) in Combination With Trastuzumab or Cetuximab in Subjects With Advanced/Metastatic HER2- or EGFR-Expressing Cancers
• Estimated Study Start Date: March 2021
• Estimated Primary Completion Date: August 2022
• Estimated Study Completion Date: February 2023

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Experimental: Phase 1, Cohort 1; SNK01 (low dose) administered once every three weeks in combination with trastuzumab (loading dose of 8 mg/kg on Cycle 1, Day 1, followed by a 6 mg/kg on Cycle 2, Day 1 once every three weeks)	Biological: SNK01; Patient-specific ex vivo expanded autologous natural killer cells; Drug: Trastuzumab; HER2 receptor antagonistic, humanized immunoglobulin G subclass 1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody; Other Name: Herceptin
Experimental: Phase 1, Cohort 2; SNK01 (high dose) administered once every three weeks in combination with trastuzumab (loading dose of 8 mg/kg on Cycle 1, Day 1, followed by a 6 mg/kg on Cycle 2, Day 1 once every three weeks)	Biological: SNK01; Patient-specific ex vivo expanded autologous natural killer cells; Drug: Trastuzumab; HER2 receptor antagonistic, humanized immunoglobulin G subclass 1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody; Other Name: Herceptin
Experimental: Phase 1, Cohort 3; SNK01 (low dose) administered once every week in combination with cetuximab (loading dose of 400 mg/m2 on Cycle 1, Day 1, followed by a 250 mg/m2 on Cycle 2, Day 1 once every week)	Biological: SNK01; Patient-specific ex vivo expanded autologous natural killer cells; Drug: Cetuximab; EGFR antagonist, chimeric immunoglobulin G subclass 1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody; Other Name: Erbitux
Experimental: Phase 1, Cohort 4; SNK01 (high dose) administered once every week in combination with cetuximab (loading dose of 400 mg/m2 on Cycle 1, Day 1, followed by a 250 mg/m2 on Cycle 2, Day 1 once every week)	Biological: SNK01; Patient-specific ex vivo expanded autologous natural killer cells; Drug: Cetuximab; EGFR antagonist, chimeric immunoglobulin G subclass 1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody; Other Name: Erbitux
Experimental: Phase 2, Expansion Cohort 1; SNK01 (TBD RP2D) administered once every three weeks in combination with trastuzumab (loading dose of 8 mg/kg on Cycle 1, Day 1, followed by a 6 mg/kg on Cycle 2, Day 1 once every three weeks)	Biological: SNK01; Patient-specific ex vivo expanded autologous natural killer cells; Drug: Trastuzumab; HER2 receptor antagonistic, humanized immunoglobulin G subclass 1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody; Other Name: Herceptin
Experimental: Phase 2, Expansion Cohort 2; SNK01 (TBD RP2D) administered once every week in combination with cetuximab (loading dose of 400 mg/m2 on Cycle 1, Day 1, followed by a 250 mg/m2 on Cycle 2, Day 1 once every week)	Biological: SNK01; Patient-specific ex vivo expanded autologous natural killer cells; Drug: Cetuximab; EGFR antagonist, chimeric immunoglobulin G subclass 1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody; Other Name: Erbitux

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Phase 1 - To determine recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) of SNK01 in combination with trastuzumab in subjects with advanced HER2 cancers. [ Time Frame: Up to 6 months ]
   Evaluated by the number of DLTs graded using NCI CTCAE v5.0.
2. Phase 1 - To determine recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) of SNK01 in combination with cetuximab in subjects with advanced EGFR cancers. [ Time Frame: Up to 6 months ]
   Evaluated by the number of DLTs graded using NCI CTCAE v5.0.
3. Phase 2a - To assess objective response rate (ORR) of SNK01 in combination with trastuzumab in subjects with advanced HER2 cancers. [ Time Frame: Up to 12 months ]
   Defined by percentage of subjects with a best response of complete response (CR), partial response (PR) or stable disease (SD) by investigator assessment per RECIST 1.1.
4. Phase 2a - To assess objective response rate (ORR) of SNK01 in combination with cetuximab in subjects with advanced EGFR cancers. [ Time Frame: Up to 12 months ]
   Defined by percentage of subjects with a best response of complete response (CR), partial response (PR) or stable disease (SD) by investigator assessment per RECIST 1.1.

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. Phase 2a - To assess the progression-free survival (PFS) of SNK01 in combination with trastuzumab in subjects with advanced HER2 cancers. [ Time Frame: Up to 12 months ]
   Defined by the time of the date of first dose of study drug until confirmed disease progression based on investigator assessment per RECIST 1.1 or death from any cause, whichever comes first.
2. Phase 2a - To assess the progression-free survival (PFS) of SNK01 in combination with cetuximab in subjects with advanced EGFR cancers. [ Time Frame: Up to 12 months ]
   Defined by the time of the date of first dose of study drug until confirmed disease progression based on investigator assessment per RECIST 1.1 or death from any cause, whichever comes first.
3. Phase 2a - To assess the overall survival (OS) of SNK01 in combination with trastuzumab in subjects with advanced HER2 cancers. [ Time Frame: Up to 24 months ]
   Defined as time from first dose of study drug to death due to any cause.
4. Phase 2a - To assess the overall survival (OS) of SNK01 in combination with cetuximab in subjects with advanced EGFR cancers. [ Time Frame: Up to 24 months ]
   Defined as time from first dose of study drug to death due to any cause.
5. Phase 2a - To assess the duration of response (DOR) of SNK01 in combination with trastuzumab in subjects with advanced HER2 cancers. [ Time Frame: Up to 12 months ]
   Defined as duration of time from initial response (complete response [CR] or partial response [PR]) to first documentation of disease progression or death from any cause, whichever occurs first.
6. Phase 2a - To assess the duration of response (DOR) of SNK01 in combination with cetuximab in subjects with advanced EGFR cancers. [ Time Frame: Up to 12 months ]
   Defined as duration of time from initial response (complete response [CR] or partial response [PR]) to first documentation of disease progression or death from any cause, whichever occurs first.
7. Phase 2a - To assess the clinical benefit rate (CBR) of SNK01 in combination with trastuzumab in subjects with advanced HER2 cancers. [ Time Frame: Up to 12 months ]
   Defined as proportion of subjects who achieve an overall tumor response (complete response [CR] or partial response [PR] or stable disease [SD]).
8. Phase 2a - To assess the clinical benefit rate (CBR) of SNK01 in combination with cetuximab in subjects with advanced EGFR cancers. [ Time Frame: Up to 12 months ]
   Defined as proportion of subjects who achieve an overall tumor response (complete response [CR] or partial response [PR] or stable disease [SD]).
9. Phase 2a - Impact of SNK01 in combination with trastuzumab on quality of life in subjects with advanced HER2 cancers evaluated using European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30 (QLQ-C30). [ Time Frame: Up to 12 months ]

   The EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire consists of 30 questions, 24 of which are grouped into nine multi-item scales (five functioning scales [physical, role, cognitive, emotional and social], three symptom scales [fatigue, pain and nausea/vomiting] and one global health status scale). The remaining six questions are single-item scales (dyspnea, appetite loss, sleep disturbance, constipation, diarrhea and the financial impact) and are intended to assess symptoms.

   All of the scales and single-item measures are scored on a scale from 0 to 100. A better state of the patient is denoted by a higher score for the functioning scales and global health status, while a worsening state of the patient is denoted by higher scores on the symptom and single-item scales.

10. Phase 2a - Impact of SNK01 in combination with cetuximab on quality of life in subjects with advanced EGFR cancers evaluated using European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30 (QLQ-C30). [ Time Frame: Up to 12 months ]

    The EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire consists of 30 questions, 24 of which are grouped into nine multi-item scales (five functioning scales [physical, role, cognitive, emotional and social], three symptom scales [fatigue, pain and nausea/vomiting] and one global health status scale). The remaining six questions are single-item scales (dyspnea, appetite loss, sleep disturbance, constipation, diarrhea and the financial impact) and are intended to assess symptoms.

    All of the scales and single-item measures are scored on a scale from 0 to 100. A better state of the patient is denoted by a higher score for the functioning scales and global health status, while a worsening state of the patient is denoted by higher scores on the symptom and single-item scales.

11. Phase 2a-Impact of SNK01 in combination with trastuzumab on quality of life in subjects with advanced HER2 cancers evaluated using European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Lung Cancer 13 (QLQ-LC13). [ Time Frame: Up to 12 months ]

    The EORTC QLQ-LC13 is a supplementary lung-cancer specific questionnaire and is used in conjunction with the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. It is comprised of 13 questions, 3 of which are grouped into a multi-item scale to assess dyspnea and 10 of which are single-item scales assessing pain, coughing, sore mouth, dysphagia, peripheral neuropathy, alopecia, and hemoptysis.

    All of the scales and single-item measures are scored on a scale from 0 to 100. A better state of the patient is denoted by a higher score for the functioning scales and global health status, while a worsening state of the patient is denoted by higher scores on the symptom and single-item scales.

12. Phase 2a - Impact of SNK01 in combination with cetuximab on quality of life in subjects with advanced EGFR cancers evaluated using European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Lung Cancer 13 (QLQ-LC13). [ Time Frame: Up to 12 months ]

    The EORTC QLQ-LC13 is a supplementary lung-cancer specific questionnaire and is used in conjunction with the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. It is comprised of 13 questions, 3 of which are grouped into a multi-item scale to assess dyspnea and 10 of which are single-item scales assessing pain, coughing, sore mouth, dysphagia, peripheral neuropathy, alopecia, and hemoptysis.

    All of the scales and single-item measures are scored on a scale from 0 to 100. A better state of the patient is denoted by a higher score for the functioning scales and global health status, while a worsening state of the patient is denoted by higher scores on the symptom and single-item scales.

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years to 75 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Capable of giving signed informed consent which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the informed consent form and protocol.
• Males and females ages 18 to 75 years, inclusive.
• Diagnosed with any documented histologically confirmed HER2 or EGFR-positive malignancy whose disease is confirmed to be metastatic and/or unresectable for which all treatment options considered to be standard of care therapy appropriate for the specific tumor type have been received and are no longer effective (i.e., subjects are refractory to standard of care therapies).
• One or more tumors measurable per RECIST v1.1
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 1
• At least 4 weeks since any prior systemic therapy (excluding corticosteroid therapy) to treat the underlying malignancy (standard or investigational).
• At least 2 weeks since prior palliative radiotherapy.
• Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥50% measured by multiple-gated acquisition scan (MUGA) or echocardiogram (ECHO).

• Adequate organ function as determined by:

  a. Hematological (without growth factor or transfusion support within 14 days prior to screening): i. Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1.5 × 109/L (1,500/mm3) ii. Platelet count ≥ 75 × 109/L (75,000/mm3) iii. Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL iv. Prothrombin time-international normalized ratio and partial thromboplastin time ≤ 1.5 × upper limit normal (ULN)

  b. Renal: i. Calculated creatinine clearance (CrCl) or 24 hour urine CrCl > 50 mL/minute (Note: Cockcroft-Gault formula will be used to calculate CrCl)

  c. Hepatic: i. Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × ULN; for subjects with documented/suspected Gilbert's disease, bilirubin ≤ 3 × ULN ii. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 × ULN (AST/ALT can be up to 5 × ULN in the presence of liver metastasis, but cannot be associated with concurrent elevated bilirubin)

  d. Serum electrolytes: i. Potassium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium (corrected for serum albumin) ≤ Grade 1 or within the institutional ranges of normal. If clinically appropriate, electrolytes may be corrected and values re-assessed prior to enrollment.

• Women of childbearing potential who are not abstinent and intend to be sexually active with a nonsterilized male partner must be willing to use an adequate method of contraception from 28 days prior to the first study drug(s) administration and 120 days following last day of the last administration of last study drug(s) discontinued; acceptable methods include hormonal contraception (oral contraceptives - as long as on stable dose, patch, implant, and injection), intrauterine devices, or double barrier methods (e.g., vaginal diaphragm/vaginal sponge plus condom, or condom plus spermicidal jelly), sexual abstinence or a vasectomized partner. Women may be surgically sterile for at least 1 year after last menstrual period.
• Male subjects: Non-sterilized male subjects who are not abstinent and intend to be sexually active with a female partner of childbearing potential must use a male condom plus spermicide from 28 days prior to the first study drug(s) administration throughout the total duration of the treatment period and 120 days after the last dose of last study drug(s) discontinued. Periodic abstinence, the rhythm method, and the withdrawal method are not acceptable methods of contraception. Male subjects should refrain from sperm donation throughout this period.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant and/or lactating females. Women of childbearing potential must have negative serum pregnancy test (minimum sensitivity 25 IU/L or equivalent units of HCG) within 14 days prior to receiving the first administration of the study drug(s) and a negative urine pregnancy test on Day 1 before first administration of the study drug(s). If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test is required.
• Life expectancy of less than three months.
• Currently being treated with immunotherapy or received immunotherapy during the treatment regimen immediately prior to participation in this study.
• Untreated for HER2- or EGFR-positive metastatic and/or unresectable malignancy OR have refused an available standard of care therapy appropriate for the specific tumor type for any reason other than for a known sensitivity, toxicity, or contraindication.
• For EGFR-positive patients, first line cetuximab treatment stopped due to allergic response.
• For EGFR-positive patients, superior vena cava syndrome contra-indicating hydration.
• Untreated or symptomatic central nervous system (CNS) metastases. Note: Subjects with asymptomatic treated CNS metastases are eligible provided they have been clinically stable and not requiring steroid treatment for at least 4 weeks.
• No resolution of specific toxicities related to any prior anti-cancer therapy to Grade ≤1 according to the NCI-CTCAE v.5.0 (except lymphopenia and alopecia).
• Active peripheral or motor neuropathy of any CTCAE grade and due to any cause.
• Known hypersensitivity or allergy or contraindication to at least one of the study drugs.
• In case of previous chemotherapy, wash out period of less than 5 half-lives of treatment before study entry.

• Clinically significant cardiovascular disease including:

  1. Myocardial infarction within 3 months,
  2. Congestive heart failure of the New York Heart Association (NYHA) class 3 or 4, or patients with history of congestive heart failure NYHA class 3 or 4 in the past, unless a screening LVEF assessment ≥ 45%,
  3. Prolonged QT interval defined as screening corrected QT interval (QTc) > 470 ms (Fridericia correction formula),
  4. History of clinically significant ventricular arrhythmia (e.g., ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation),
  5. History of Mobitz II 2nd degree or 3rd degree heart block without a permanent pacemaker in place,
  6. Hypotension (systolic blood pressure [BP] < 86 mmHg) or bradycardia with a heart rate < 50 bpm,
  7. Uncontrolled hypertension as indicated by a resting systolic BP > 170 mmHg or diastolic BP > 105 mmHg despite an optimal treatment,
• Major surgery within 4 weeks prior first study drug administration or already planned during the study.
• Currently participating in or has participated in a study of an investigational agent or has used an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study drug(s). (Note: Subjects participating in an observational study are an exception to this criterion and may qualify for the study with Sponsor approval)
• Any pulmonary, thyroid, renal, hepatic severe/uncontrolled concurrent medical disease that in the opinion of the Investigator could cause unacceptable safety risks or compromise compliance with the protocol.
• Active uncontrolled viral, fungal or bacterial infection requiring systematic therapy within 14 days of Day 1.
• High fever or any active or unresolved infection.
• Known history of testing positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and/or positive test for Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) and/or positive Hep C antibody result with detectable hepatitis C virus (HCV) ribonucleic acid (RNA) indicating acute or chronic infection.
• Autoimmune disease requiring therapy; immunodeficiency, or any disease process requiring immunosuppressive therapy.
• A serious nonmalignant disease (e.g., psychiatric, substance abuse, uncontrolled intercurrent illness, etc.) that could compromise protocol objectives in the opinion of the Investigator and/or the Sponsor.
• Any other condition that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would prohibit the subject from participating in the study.

Contacts and Locations

Sponsors and Collaborators

NKGen Biotech, Inc.

Investigators

• Study Director: Paul Y. Song, MD; NKGen Biotech, Inc.

More Information

• Responsible Party: NKGen Biotech, Inc.
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04464967
• Other Study ID Numbers: SNK01-102
• First Posted: July 9, 2020
• Last Update Posted: May 12, 2021
• Last Verified: May 2021

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No

Keywords provided by NKGen Biotech, Inc.:

Natural killer cell; NK cell; Expanded natural killer cell; Immunotherapy; Cancer; Metastatic cancer; Advanced cancer; Recurrent cancer; HER2 Positive; HER2+; HER2; EGFR Positive; EGFR+; EGFR; Solid tumor; Breast Cancer; Gastric Cancer; Esophageal Cancer; Ovarian Cancer; Endometrium Cancer; Bladder Cancer; Pancreatic Cancer; Colorectal Cancer; Non Small Cell Lung Cancer; Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Triple Negative Breast Cancer; Cervical Cancer; Sarcoma

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Breast Neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Colorectal Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Sarcoma; Ovarian Neoplasms; Stomach Neoplasms; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms; Esophageal Neoplasms; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms; Neoplasm Metastasis; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; Endometrial Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Breast Diseases; Skin Diseases; Respiratory Tract Neoplasms; Thoracic Neoplasms; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic; Bronchial Neoplasms; Intestinal Neoplasms